Presenting the data
When you generate a new DataWindow object, PowerBuilder presents
the data according to the properties already defined for a column,
such as a column’s display format and edit style.
Display formats
Display formats embellish data values while still displaying
them as letters, numbers, and special characters. Using display
formats, for example, you can:
-
Change the color of numbers to display a negative
value -
Add parentheses and dashes to format a telephone
number -
Add a dollar sign and period to indicate a currency
format
For information, see About display
formats.
Edit styles
Edit styles usually take precedence over display formats and
specify how column data is presented. For example, using edit styles,
you can:
-
Display valid values in a drop-down list
-
Indicate that a single value is selected by a check
box -
Indicate which of a group of values is selected with radio
buttons -
Edit styles affect not only the way data displays, they also
affect how the user interacts with the data at runtime.
For more information, see About edit
styles.
About display format masks and EditMask
masks
The differences between display format masks and EditMask masks
can be confusing. A display format mask determines the appearance of
the column when the focus is off the column, or when the DataWindow
object is in print preview mode. When you apply an EditMask edit
style, the mask you use determines the appearance of the column when
focus is on the column.
If you want data to display differently depending on whether the
focus is on or off the column, specify an edit mask (on the Edit
property page for the column) as well as a display format (on the
Format property page for the column), then check the Use Format check
box on the Format property page. The Use Format check box displays
only when an edit mask has been specified.
If you want the data to display in the same way whether focus is
on or off the column and you have defined an edit mask, you do not
need to define a display format. The edit mask is used for display if
the Use Format box is not checked (the default).